Career and Education Opportunities for Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives in Charleston, West Virginia

Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative career and educational opportunities abound in Charleston, West Virginia. There are currently 5,820 jobs for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives in West Virginia and this is projected to grow by 7% to about 6,250 jobs by 2016. This is better than the national trend for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, which sees this job pool growing by about 6.6% over the next eight years. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives generally sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals.

A person working as a wholesale and manufacturing sales representative can expect to earn about $20 hourly or $43,470 annually on average in West Virginia and about $24 per hour or $51,330 per year on average in the U.S. as a whole. Compared with people working in the overall category of Sales and Clerical, people working as wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives in West Virginia earn more. They earn more than people working in the overall category of Sales and Clerical nationally.

There is one school within twenty-five miles of Charleston where you can study to be a wholesale and manufacturing sales representative, among seventeen schools of higher education total in the Charleston area. Given that the most common education level for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives is some college courses, you can expect to spend a short time studying to be a wholesale and manufacturing sales representative if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representative

In general, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. They also work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives answer clients' questions about products and credit terms. They also recommend products to clients, on the basis of clients' needs and interests. Equally important, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives have to contact regular and prospective clients to exhibit products, explain product features, and solicit orders. They are often called upon to furnish clients with product samples and catalogs. They are expected to estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates. Finally, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives monitor market conditions and competitors' products and sales.

Every day, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they speak clearly.

It is important for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives to perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports. They are often called upon to negotiate specifics of contracts and payments, and make ready sales contracts and order forms. They also make ready drawings and bids that meet specific customer needs. They are sometimes expected to obtain credit data related to prospective clients. Somewhat less frequently, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are also expected to train clients' employees to operate and maintain new equipment.

Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sometimes are asked to train clients' employees to operate and maintain new equipment. and formulate and stock product displays in retail stores, or make recommendations to retailers regarding product displays and advertising. And finally, they sometimes have to confer with clients after sales or contract signings to deal with problems and to furnish ongoing support.

Like many other jobs, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must have exceptional integrity and be reliable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Charleston include:

Advertising Agent. Sell or solicit advertising, including graphic art, advertising space in publications, custom made signs, or TV and radio advertising time. May obtain leases for outdoor advertising sites or persuade retailer to use sales promotion display items.

Retail Sales Manager. Directly supervise sales workers in a retail establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

Retail Salesman. Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, or apparel in a retail establishment.

Technical Service Representative. Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of post-secondary education.

Telemarketer. Solicit orders for goods or services over the telephone.

West Virginia State Community and Technical College, 103 Cole Complex, Institute, WV 25112-1000. West Virginia State Community and Technical College is a small college located in Institute, West Virginia. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 1,741 students. West Virginia State Community and Technical College has an associate's degree program in Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations which graduated four students in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Ingredient Service Provider:
This program is designed for busy professionals involved in the sales and service of ingredients to the baking industry who are not able to attend the AIB Baking Science and Technology resident course.

NAFA Certified Air Filter Specialist:
In response to the need for quality assurance, increased education and recognition of professional achievement within the industry, NAFA developed the NAFA Certified Air Filter Specialist (CAFS) program-the first education and certification program designed specifically for air filtration professionals.

National Professional Certification in Sales:
The Certification was designed to capture the core Sales duties for a broad range of entry-level through first-line supervisory positions across the sales and service industries.

Certified Salesperson:
The SMEI Certified Professional Salesperson program is ideal for professionals who are employed as a sales representatives, account managers, distributor representatives and business development personnel.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Charleston, West Virginia

Charleston, West Virginia photo by Malepheasant

Charleston is situated in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It has a population of over 50,302, which has shrunk by 5.8% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Charleston, 84, is well below the national average. New single-family homes in Charleston are priced at $268,400 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, thirty-four new homes were constructed in Charleston, up from twenty-seven the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Charleston are health care, educational services, and public administration. For men, it is professional, scientific, and technical services, health care, and public administration. The average travel time to work is about 16 minutes. More than 32.6% of Charleston residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 15.0%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Charleston is 7.7%, which is the same as West Virginia's average of 7.7%. About 16.7% of Charleston's residents are below the poverty line, which is better than the state average.

The percentage of Charleston residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 34.5%, is less than both the national and state average. Starcher Baptist Church, Southeast Church of the Nazarene and South Ruffner Presbyterian Church are among the churches located in Charleston. The largest religious groups are the American Baptist Churches in the USA, the United Methodist Church and the Catholic Church.

Charleston is home to the John F Kennedy Center and the Kanawha County Courthouse as well as Watt Powell Stadium and Ruffner Memorial Park. Shopping centers in the area include Patrick Street Plaza Shopping Center, Laidley Court Shopping Center and Plaza East Shopping Center. Visitors to Charleston can choose from Days Inn Charleston East WV, Motel 6 and Fairfield Inn Charleston for temporary stays in the area.